The problem here is that the whole identiy of PokéCommunity could very easily change if these kind of topics are readily allowed, even just as an 18+ forum.
I think that would be a good thing, honestly.
The main issue is that just because it's not illegal to talk about something, it doesn't mean it's socially acceptable.
That's not the issue at all. What Dipu outlined is that he thought it was a little much to lock that specific thread, and that he wanted to discuss the reasoning and logic behind that. Legality wasn't in the picture prior.
Allowing these discussions could very easily promote an uncomfortable atmosphere for the people who don't want to discuss it because the forum's mentality is now that in-depth sexual discussions are a-okay, and there's a big risk of creating a very creepy side to the forum from this.
As many have mentioned before, a tagging system seems a viable solution. And if one is going to get "uncomfortable" by the mere presence of a thread and the mere thought of something they don't like being discussed in a forum, then they have a problem. :P
18+ forums are adult-only for a reason - when it comes to sexual topics, adults and adolescents simply should not mix. Sure, it's innocent enough for adults to discuss how often they masturbate, but should a 25 year old be asking a 15 year old that?
You make being 18 sound like it's a magical quantification of maturity and decency and intelligence; there are some dumb ass folks in their twenties and thirties I've seen with the maturity level of a ten-year-old, and I've met
middle schoolers that are surprisingly logical and questioning about such topics. Maturity by no means coincides with age – it's a problem most societies have been dealing with for a while.
Should an adult be discussing the favourite sexual positions of 13 year old boys with them, or replying to 14 year old girls talking about whether or not they enjoy swallowing semen? "Do you swallow semen?"
–16-year-old talking here–
That honestly made me burst out laughing. What mature adult would honestly make a thread like that? With that case I'd be questioning the maturity of the OP. The thing transpiring here is an attempt to have mature discussions on a forum with sensible people and a content warning beforehand. To me that kind of thread shows zero maturity at all whatsoever, and to that I really appreciate the approach a lot of our members have with the iffy discussions we've had in the past, as that thing pales in comparison. :P
and "What are your favourite sexual positions?" are not necessarily topics that are more inappropriate than "How often do you masturbate?" and therefore would fly under the radar if 18+ discussion is encouraged.
See above
Nor would replying to people's posts be strange forum etiquette, but these simple examples show how easy it is for this sort of topic to cross the line into socially unacceptable and borderline paedophilic territory.
Do you think the staff is populated by monkeys?
It's also worth noting that these aren't extreme examples at all - they're rather standard sexual questions.
They're definitely something you can't just ask ad nauseum to some guy off the street. With these sorts of topics you have to socially approach them in a way where you wouldn't offend someone you know, ergo using a recent happening or other topic to segway, or if you're funny maybe a joke. The dynamic of a forum is obviously different, and the social construct is therefore not the same. Regardless, most will concur that its a construct that can handle this sort of discussion, with the topics worked for a forum environment like anything else you'd talk about on a Saturday.
They simply show just how few sex-related topics can actually be discussed before things become socially unacceptable and dangerously close to illegal.
I think pushing sexual encounters and talking mono e mono about such topics is what borders into paedophilia and sexual harassment, not the open forum discussion of such materials without interest to act.
So what's the solution - make all under 18s obtain parental consent just in case they click a 'mature' topic (because whose parents wouldn't agree to that?)? Have some sort of proof of age before you can view any of these mature discussions?
I think there's something called having maturity in those topics, and the moderators sweeping up those who can't.
The whole situation raises a large 'slippery slope' dilemma; who's to say what is appropriate and what isn't?
How would you determine what's socially acceptable and unacceptable in any other social situation?
It's very easy to say "you may be uncomfortable with this, but it's not illegal, so get over it" with somewhat innocent topics like "how often do you have sex?".
But should you yield to that, you have no strong argument against, say, a thread discussing S&M fantasies and discussing your favourite in-depth sexual positions.
See above said detailing of general maturity and the actions on those without it.
It's not against the law, so if you're uncomfortable, you're just going to have to not click it and get over it.
…If you don't want to read about it, don't click it –
it's labeled just for you! By refusing to open the thread you are saving yourself from any and all discussion from a mature topic. What would you have to get over?
Adding to the above 'slippery slope' point; where does the 'mature' content end? If people are now allowed to discuss all of these topics in the General Chat section, why not add a 'mature' side to the Fan-Fiction section too, for example? A good ol' tale from our most noteable banned member regarding his 'experiences' with a certain Palkia is suddenly not seeming like such a bannable offense; it's not illegal to write about and you didn't have to click it, but the identity of the forum has now changed to have these topics as acceptable to discuss?
We're not forcing anyone into anything. Who's a person to dictate how others interact based on their judgment when they are in no position of reasonable authority or responsibility to do so? Also the identity-change argument really doesn't fly too well, see below.
Essentially it all boils down to a simple question; is it worth changing the identity of PC, potentially losing current members who're uncomfortable with this to other Pokéforums like EGC or BGF, and changing the atmosphere of the forum as a whole whilst attempting to negotiate the mountain of issues that will come from having adults talking about sex on a forum that was never built for that, all just to accommodate people who could easily discuss such topics elsewhere?
Yes. :)
And regarding the comments like "society should let go of being scared to talk about sex omfg come on people", this doesn't mean it has to or has done. If society views talking about sex as unacceptable, and by extension a sizeable amount of PC's posters think it's unacceptable, then there's no reason to try and force these views on a community that isn't ready to unite over them. There are countless places to discuss these topics on the internet; why should PC become another?
I think it's less so society's view and more so you're gonna have your intolerant people who want the world to fit their preconceived mold. You have these same people in society, and different social cliques handle those topics differently; the thing being pushed here is that PC should encompass both sorts of views in a sphere of tolerance while providing shielding from those uninterested.
